Third Party Press

Gewehr 98 WMO 1915 1670n

PrayingMantis

Senior Member
Think this is my last Gewehr to rephotograph. Getting this one was such a bizarre experience that I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking at it now it is a good early war WMO. It definitely falls in the warhorse category.

Its a vet bringback, brought to Ohio by a soldier of the 308th Field Signal Battalion, 83rd Division. It’s rework matching except for the bolt, which looks like it came back with the rifle, and a few small parts. It went through Köln, where it appears to have been counterbored. It also received a nice beech armorers handguard. The front trigger guard screw, trigger, and follower are mismatched, while the floor plate has been over stamped. Seems like a major rework in a facility like Köln would renumbered those parts, so perhaps it also went through a lower level rework at some point, too.

One thing I find interesting is the lack of acceptance on many of the small parts. Band springs, locking screws, ejector box all lack acceptance. But it still must have been quite nice when new, traces of the high quality bluing remain. The stock has a few marks that I’ve seen on other parts that I’ve speculated are subcontractor marks, but I don’t know well enough to say for sure.

There are some rough spots on the metal, and the previous owner completely coated everything in linseed oil. I’ve spent the last few years oiling it and taking bronze wool to the metal, it’s looking a lot better.

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER A-G OBERNDORF A/N 1915

Receiver SN 1670 n
Barrel SN 1670 n
Front sight SN 70
Rear sight SN 70
Sight Slider SN 70, 70, 70
Ejector box SN 70
Trigger Sear SN
Front barrel band SN 70
Rear barrel band SN 70
Trigger guard SN 1670
Trigger guard screws SN 02, 07
Floor Plate SN 07 (overstamped)
Follower SN 87
Stock SN 1670
Handguard SN not numbered
Buttplate SN 1670 4 H
Bayonet lug SN 70
Cleaning Rod SN 53
 

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Last edited:
Stock and trigger guard.
 

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I am glad that you have undertaken the updating of your rifles, this one needed them! Especially the stock shots.. for a comparison there is another n-block floating around for sale (9095/n) which is really a nice example and a good example for comparison. It differs from your rifle (and all others) on the first position RR, which is weird for WMO. They are very tight within ranges usually, but clearly correct. BC was very close to yours also, I have recorded four n-blocks from 15 so far, only yours and 9095/n is very original. Which is pretty common with most 1915's in general. A tough year to find nice, most are pretty well used up, some really rough.

Any nice 1915 is worth getting, far more difficult than many think, especially ones that show almost no signs of reworking or depot visits. Matching original bolts are really tough too, but yours is really about the best that can be expected most of the time, - the Germans really put these through the wringer, must have kept them in the front lines the whole time, what a way to run a war, I am amazed the Germans did n't break at the same time as the French, all wars are stupid and barbaric but WWI has to take the cake (except for the war on civilians, which is the worst part of it, only the draft, especially of the very young, comes close)
 
Another nice Gewehr Cyprus love the updated pictures very well done.

And I agree with Paul finding any 1915 dated Gewehr that is matching, unreworked, and in good condition is tough really tough from what I have seen. But I do find in one of the most interesting years for Gewehr 98 productions especially the start up all of the commercial firms. We know the year of 1915 is the toughest to find any of the Suhl consortium made rifles, Simson, and of course my favorite Kornbusch.
 
I was actually planning to rephoto this one before I saw 9095n, but it was certainly extra motivation! The c/J on it dies seem odd for WMO, but the barrel bands on 1670n seem to have the same acceptance.

Glad you’re liking the updated photos. This was to be the last, but after looking back in the reference thread I think I might keep it up. I’ve been getting great feedback on the reference thread, people seem to be really using it, so my goal now is to photo the serial number and acceptance of matched parts so anyone wondering about a Gewehr can compare.

I am glad that you have undertaken the updating of your rifles, this one needed them! Especially the stock shots.. for a comparison there is another n-block floating around for sale (9095/n) which is really a nice example and a good example for comparison. It differs from your rifle (and all others) on the first position RR, which is weird for WMO. They are very tight within ranges usually, but clearly correct. BC was very close to yours also, I have recorded four n-blocks from 15 so far, only yours and 9095/n is very original. Which is pretty common with most 1915's in general. A tough year to find nice, most are pretty well used up, some really rough.
 
I appreciate it, Jordan! Yes 1915 sure is a hard year, but I’m low key after a year set. I’m at five of the eleven, almost half way! I should rephoto the 15 Sauer and Schilling next.

Another nice Gewehr Cyprus love the updated pictures very well done.

And I agree with Paul finding any 1915 dated Gewehr that is matching, unreworked, and in good condition is tough really tough from what I have seen. But I do find in one of the most interesting years for Gewehr 98 productions especially the start up all of the commercial firms. We know the year of 1915 is the toughest to find any of the Suhl consortium made rifles, Simson, and of course my favorite Kornbusch.
 
That's a nice 1915 WMO Gewehr 98, stuff like this is what I reference whenever I come across a Gewehr 98 out in the wild(wish it happened more often). Really neat veteran provenance, you don't see nearly as much WWI provenance compared to anything from WWII.
 
Just because I don’t know, how does this particular rifle have a known provenance to the named soldier? Is there documentation or is it word of mouth from a family member? VFW?
What constitutes a “named” rifle.
Very nice rifle by the way!
 
Just because I don’t know, how does this particular rifle have a known provenance to the named soldier? Is there documentation or is it word of mouth from a family member? VFW?
What constitutes a “named” rifle.
Very nice rifle by the way!
Thanks, Rick! I’ve seen different sorts of documentation to establish provenance, recently there was a Gew at auction that had a US soldiers identification disk attached to it, and this one was word of mouth. The guy I bought it off if told me he bought it from a vet and gave me his name and location, I tracked his service record from there. Such things should always be taken with a grain of salt, but I’m confident this one is legit.
 
Thanks, Rick! I’ve seen different sorts of documentation to establish provenance, recently there was a Gew at auction that had a US soldiers identification disk attached to it, and this one was word of mouth. The guy I bought it off if told me he bought it from a vet and gave me his name and location, I tracked his service record from there. Such things should always be taken with a grain of salt, but I’m confident this one is legit.
Very cool and thank you for explaining that Cyrus. I wasn’t doubting in any way, I was unfamiliar with the “named rifle” terminology. And you are correct, you don’t see too many WW1 pieces attributed to a particular GI. I learn something everyday here!
 
Well of course, it is always easiest when they engrave their service or social security number into the rifle or pistol.

Shame more didn't go that route.
 

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